[pfgpowell]

From idle curiosity, I clicked on an ad for Chromebooks and was taken to a site selling three, two Samsung and an Acer. Looking at the rather sparse list of specs (the list was sparse, not necessarily the specs), I noticed that the punter who bought one was promised '100Gb of Cloud space free for two years'. Which leads me to assume that after that (as every **** on the planet now seems intent on separating us from our hard-earned shekels) you are obliged to start paying a sub to access those files you have uploaded to your Cloud space or you have no access.
I then googled Chromebooks to see whether they came with USB ports so that one might attach a freestanding hard drive, but I couldn't find any confirmation.
So is that the deal when you buy a Chromebook? After two years you are obliged to take a subscription so that you can access your files? Give me an SSD internal hard drive any time.

[John259]

What happens to my files on Drive after 2 years?

All of your files will remain in Drive and you can access, download, or share them whenever you want. You won’t be able to add additional files unless you buy more storage at www.google.com/settings/storage.

For example, if you have uploaded 75 GB of files to Google Drive, you will be able to access everything there, but you won't be able to add more files unless you upgrade to the 100 GB per month plan for $5 per month.

- https://support.google.com/chromeos/...answer=2703646

IMHO for a device with such restricted functionality, the price needs to be drastically reduced in order to be competitive.

[omnidirectional]

I have a Samsung Series 5 Chromebook which has a 16GB SSD drive, SD card reader and a USB port, I don't know if the latest (cheaper) Chromebooks also offer this. All users get 5GB free with Google Drive for cloud storage; you can optionally pay for extra space ranging from 25GB up to 16TB!

[Anika Hanson]

Originally Posted by omnidirectional

I have a Samsung Series 5 Chromebook which has a 16GB SSD drive, SD card reader and a USB port, I don't know if the latest (cheaper) Chromebooks also offer this. All users get 5GB free with Google Drive for cloud storage; you can optionally pay for extra space ranging from 25GB up to 16TB!

I have the samsung series 3 chromebook. It also has a 16 gb SSD, SD card reader, 3 usb ports and a HDMI port. I also got thre 100 gb free storage in addition to the 5 gb.

[curiousclive]

The only problem I can see is how do you use the laptop if you cannot get online. As the whole purpose of a laptop is portability so can use the same files as at home desktop that you install before leaving home If the files are only held in the cloud and you cannot get online in your location then carrying the laptop is a waste of time.

[Smiggs]

Originally Posted by John259

- https://support.google.com/chromeos/...answer=2703646

IMHO for a device with such restricted functionality, the price needs to be drastically reduced in order to be competitive.

The hardare is similar to the original netbooks but Linux compatible because Chrome OS is Linux, so could be a useful device, once you've installed Ubuntu obviously.

[psionic]

Originally Posted by curiousclive

The only problem I can see is how do you use the laptop if you cannot get online. As the whole purpose of a laptop is portability so can use the same files as at home desktop that you install before leaving home If the files are only held in the cloud and you cannot get online in your location then carrying the laptop is a waste of time.

Wifi is fairly accessible at most homes, offices and schools etc. What I do with my tablet is tether it to my smartphone when I'm not near WiFi.

[psionic]

Originally Posted by pfgpowell

From idle curiosity, I clicked on an ad for Chromebooks and was taken to a site selling three, two Samsung and an Acer. Looking at the rather sparse list of specs (the list was sparse, not necessarily the specs), I noticed that the punter who bought one was promised '100Gb of Cloud space free for two years'. Which leads me to assume that after that (as every **** on the planet now seems intent on separating us from our hard-earned shekels) you are obliged to start paying a sub to access those files you have uploaded to your Cloud space or you have no access.
I then googled Chromebooks to see whether they came with USB ports so that one might attach a freestanding hard drive, but I couldn't find any confirmation.
So is that the deal when you buy a Chromebook? After two years you are obliged to take a subscription so that you can access your files? Give me an SSD internal hard drive any time.

You can connect an external flash drive (USB or SD card) or conventional external USB drive if you want. The cloud storage is just Google Drive. Which is usable by everyone for free up to 5GB. The offer they are providing with new Chromebooks is 100GB for 2 years which normally costs $5 per month. Apparently your files aren't deleted if you don't renew, but you won't be able to add to them.

[noise747]

This is the problem with this cloud thing, you get it free for so long, but if it ever came to the point in being the only way to store files, it would not be free.

The other problem is that terms can be changed at any time and while you may be able to get 100Gb for $5 a month at the moment, what is to stop them for putting that up in price?

This seems to be the same with say Microsoft surface, very limited built in storage and the only way to expand is Sd cards that can be lost.

If you store all your files online then you have to have connection all the time. I know that chromebook did have some sort of cache, so they will update online next time you connect.

A chromebook is really just a browser and most are over priced for what they do.

Dropbox is ok for some things as you still keep the files on your computer, but I would not rely 100% on it or any cloud stuff.

[Si_Crewe]

Given that the true motivation for encouraging people to use proper "cloud" computing (as opposed to just online file storage) is to reduce software piracy, I'm surprised that both MS and Apple aren't pushing it harder.

They both seemed to be making a big fuss about it a couple of years ago but have since gone quiet about it again.

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by curiousclive

The only problem I can see is how do you use the laptop if you cannot get online. As the whole purpose of a laptop is portability so can use the same files as at home desktop that you install before leaving home If the files are only held in the cloud and you cannot get online in your location then carrying the laptop is a waste of time.

wifi and 3g are common place enough to allow cloud services to be viable

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by Si_Crewe

Given that the true motivation for encouraging people to use proper "cloud" computing (as opposed to just online file storage) is to reduce software piracy, I'm surprised that both MS and Apple aren't pushing it harder.

They both seemed to be making a big fuss about it a couple of years ago but have since gone quiet about it again.

they are pushing it and so it apple. You have online version of office and you can do stuff like photo editing online and don't forget video and audio streaming

[AnywhereButHome]

I looked at a Samsung Chromebook last year as a laptop (I'd have ripped Chrome OS off and put Debian on), the specs were what I wanted, price was good etc but it seemed a bit much of a faff to put another OS on there.

Don't see the appeal of the cloud myself, I have flakey 2MB broadband on a good day, going downhill with a trailing wind and can't see it getting better in the near future so even watching things on YouTube are a challenge at times!

[noise747]

Originally Posted by Si_Crewe

Given that the true motivation for encouraging people to use proper "cloud" computing (as opposed to just online file storage) is to reduce software piracy, I'm surprised that both MS and Apple aren't pushing it harder.

They both seemed to be making a big fuss about it a couple of years ago but have since gone quiet about it again.

MS is pushing it, look at windows 8, the Modern UI is geared up for cloud, and the newer Os for MACs are geared up for cloud type stuff.

Sure you are right help reduce software piracy, but since Google google don't really produce software apart from a browser and a couple of OS, what are their reasons?

the cloud is just another way to try and rip us off.

[Voynich]

When mobile data rates become cheap and unrestricted it may have a chance. Trust is a problem too. I'd rather continue using my NAS.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by c4rv

wifi and 3g are common place enough to allow cloud services to be viable

It's getting there and certainly viable in some places now - but why would you want to?

I can see why you may want all your files backed up on the cloud so you can access them from anywhere but can't see why you would want to reply on it 100% of the time.

The Chromebooks always seem a bit of a strange product with no proper market....with powerful Tablets below them and full size laptops above.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by noise747

Sure you are right help reduce software piracy, but since Google google don't really produce software apart from a browser and a couple of OS, what are their reasons?

the cloud is just another way to try and rip us off.

How does Google 'rip us off'?

[zinedinezidane]

Chromebooks, or something similar, are clearly the future of computing.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by zinedinezidane

Chromebooks, or something similar, are clearly the future of computing.

Why do you think that?

[neo_wales]

Originally Posted by alan1302

How does Google 'rip us off'?

Don't start him off, please, nicely please.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by alan1302

How does Google 'rip us off'?

I never said Google, I said the cloud is another way to rip us off. Look at it in the future, if this cloud stuff really took off and hard drives became just about large enough to run software and a Os, or the main Os and software is also done via the cloud. Not really practical at the moment but one day it may be. anyway, if that happens, you will be charged to to store your files.

I can understand where cloud storage can be useful , you got more than one machine and want to share files from one to the other, but I think we really need to go into this with our eyes open.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by zinedinezidane

Chromebooks, or something similar, are clearly the future of computing.

Maybe, but it don't mean it is a good thing. i also don't think it will be for a long time, try and do video editing on a chrome book?

[alanwarwic]

Originally Posted by noise747

.... but since Google google don't really produce software ...

I do wonder if that ancient movie "The Land That Time Forgot" makes an appearance on TV this festivities.

Surely Chrome OS is IOS taken a stage further.
Revolutionary and maybe even to become a small business essential. Safe browsing for all too.

Luckily you can also run full Linux to help curtail Google's business fees.

[alanwarwic]

http://blogs.computerworld.com/cloud...ome-os-offline
It is fast evolving system so stuff like 'Google Drive off-line' does not get a mention.

I only ever see the Cloud as a backup medium, allowing some convenience.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

I do wonder if that ancient movie "The Land That Time Forgot" makes an appearance on TV this festivities.

er?

Surely Chrome OS is IOS taken a stage further.
Revolutionary and maybe even to become a small business essential. Safe browsing for all too.

I presume you can look at the Chorme Os as a early version of Windows RT.

Both really need the net to do anything with.

Luckily you can also run full Linux to help curtail Google's business fees.

which is more than you can with windows RT and even some windows 8 machines.

i would love to know how many manufactures have put secure boot on their machines.